Can’t seem to figure out how to upload videos so here’s a few stills from a video of today’s training. I worked my young setter today on some planted birds. He’s coming along nicely and was able to remain steady through flush without needing any correction from the check chord on one of the two birds we planted for him. Taking my time with him, trying to keep things fun with minimal input from me as the handler. Very proud of his desire to find birds and the effort he puts into every training session. I think he’ll become a great wild bird dog in another year or two. Enjoying the ride and learning from the mistakes I made with my shorthair who became a great wild bird dog in spite of all of my mess ups.
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Man - that’s awesome. I told my wife that, when I (finally) retire, the only thing I want is a bird dog.
She knows I don’t hunt and she thinks I’m crazy, but I’ve just never had the chance to get into it. Hopefully one day I’ll get that chance.
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They’re a huge commitment but once you see your dog go on point for the first time you’ll be hooked. I got my first bird dog 3 years ago off of Craigslist, he’s changed my life forever in the best way
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My hat is off to you. Takes consistency and persistence . That’s an interesting world. Those dogs already instinctually know “what to do” , you’re just helping them do it better and in a more controlled, beneficial way.
I have a half blue healer / half corgi so he came pre hardwired to want to herd and chase things. He’s been really fascinating to me. I can be out feeding horses and he’s laying around being lazy looking like he’s not paying attention, but oh he is. I can simply raise my hand to get a horse to move it’s feet and he will pop up and come to the fence wanting to help.
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That’s exactly right, the dogs are hard wired to find the birds, it’s up to the trainer to help them reach full potential as a hunting companion.
A corgi/heeler is one heck of a mix, sounds like hell on four legs!
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Some people breed them and they are known as Cowboy Corgis. He’s never bitten anyone , but he is definitely not a kid dog. When the grandkids come over they want to get in his face and love on him and I have to tell them not to do that.
Not a very good picture, but you get the idea. The Corgi took the hyper part away I guess, because he is pretty good with just laying around lol. He wants to please super bad. When he was a pup I had him fixed and through just walking around the property and pastures he learned his territory and never leaves it. Well, occasionally the neighbor will be driving their side x side in their pasture and he’ll go over for a ride. They’ll bring him back up and drop him off and he never tries to follow them. Best dog I’ve ever had.
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